Will Clarke follows path set by Michael Johnson

The Bengals drafted West Virginia defensive end Will Clarke.(Photo: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

The Bengals needed to replace Michael Johnson. To do so, they found a player with nearly identical attributes in the third round Friday.

Cincinnati selected West Virginia defensive end Will Clarke with the 88th overall selection. At 6-6, 271 pounds and one of the widest wingspans in the draft, he falls in line with the Johnson prototype.

"Comparison that they are both tall, long guys, that is true," defensive line coach Jay Hayes said. "As high school players they were basketball players as well as football players. The guy fits into the type of guys we have. We have long, tall, athletic players. He is definitely one of those guys."

Last year Carlos Dunlap and Johnson tied for the NFL lead in batted passes with seven apiece. Clarke will fit right in coming off a senior season where he batted down seven passes himself.

In 41 career games, Clarke produced 111 tackles, 29 tackles for losses and 9 1/2 sacks. The coaches saw he fit the prototypical size and liked what they saw on tape and at the Combine, but once they brought Clarke in for a visit their target on him grew larger.

"That really sold me on the kind of guy we are looking for around here," defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. "You knew right away, same thing with (first-round pick Darqueze) Dennard, these two guys are rock-solid guys."

The trip to Cincinnati helped sell Clarke on the Bengals, as well. Hayes knew Clarke's father, Will Sr., and that helped for a comfort level walking around the building, meeting coaches, hanging out with players and discussing football.

"It was almost like hanging out with an uncle," Clarke said. "It was a very, very down-to-earth coaching staff."

Clarke played both inside and outside on the for West Virginia and the Bengals plan to use him as such in Cincinnati. They view him with the possibility to immediately contribute as part of the defensive line rotation.

"He's the type of guy that will fit in well he is going to work hard and has talent," Hayes said. "He has potential to keep getting better. That is what Paul wants in the front and we have done here over the last six-seven years. He should be able to hopefully get into the rotation and help us that way."

The strength staff would like to help right away as well. The team would like for him to fill out his body with more muscle mass.

Clarke heard rumblings of the second, third or fourth round being a destination point, so he wasn't surprised to see the 513 area code pop up on his phone around 10:45 p.m. Friday night. He knew the location right away and quickly put together the mutual admiration from both sides made for a match in the third round.

"It was kind of like my heart jumped a little bit," Clarke said. "Like all right, this is the call. To hear coach Lewis I was a bit nervous. I was excited, though."